25 Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.

27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

29 “Come,” he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

32 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

Matthew 14:25-33

Questions for Reflection:

It takes courage to authentically follow Jesus everyday. What was going through Peter's mind and heart as he said, "Lord, if it is you, tell me to come to you on the water."

This was a big "Been with Jesus" story in Peter's life, what are 1 or 2 things Peter learned about courage in his life with Jesus, from this event?

What 1or 2 things is Jesus talking to you about concerning courage in you life with Him, as you contemplate this story?

Prayer of the Week:

Jesus, I come to You now to be restored in You, to be renewed in You, to receive Your love and your Life and all the grace and mercy I so desperately need this day. I love you, I worship You and trust you and surrender my self and my story to You. Today I want to “be with You, Jesus” and live the next chapter of my “been with Jesus” story.

Father, Son, Holy Spirit fill me afresh with Your presence, grace and power. Thank you Father for loving me so well, providing for me so appropriately and caring for my deepest as well as trivial needs. You are a good, good Father. I confess that I often take your daily love and care of me for granted – I regret that and now receive with thanks your complete and total forgiveness.

Holy Spirit, please help me remember and recall the ways you have shown yourself strong in my life. Recalling stories of your goodness, grace and power give me courage to live this day relentlessly dependent on You and live it really well.

Jesus, I deeply desire to live a courageous life in Your name marked by deep faith, surrender to Your calling and filled with the presence of Your Spirit. I renounce fear, anxiety, worry, doubt and self-reliance as the leaders of my heart, mind and living. I receive You Spirit as the master of my mind and leader of my thinking. I trust You Jesus and am overjoyed that I get to live this day fervently following You. I can have courage because You are with me and live in me.

Holy Spirit, lead me into opportunities today which will take courage in order to follow You and be a witness for You in this broken world. I deeply desire the courage to love people well, (perhaps name of the people you already know you are to love well today) to surrender my “self”, to make Spirit inspired decisions, to bring Your kingdom at all times and in every way, to trust Your grace and live with passion the meaningful life You intend for me to live today!

Amen